Nathan Amidovski becomes most recent success story in hockey family
In 1995, Bujar Amidovski made his OHL debut in goal for the Kingston Frontenacs, and now, nearly 30 years later, he sits in the stands watching his son Nathan at Ottawa 67’s Development Camp.
Nathan became the third Amidovski brother to be drafted in the OHL Priority Selection, when the Barber Poles used the 11th overall pick to acquire his talents a little over two weeks ago. He joins brothers Aidan, who was picked by the Guelph Storm in 2021, and Lirim, who was taken by the North Bay Battalion in 2022.
Bujar used to consider the 67’s one of his biggest rivals, recalling the Brian Kilrea-led teams he used to dread facing off against, but all of that is now behind him. He introduced himself to the legendary coach, and Kilrea quickly brought up memories of heated matchups. The same can be said for General Manager James Boyd, who played for the Belleville Bulls at the time.
Now, Ottawa has the feeling of a home away from home for the Amidovski family, and Bujar beams with excitement at the thought of his son putting on the barber pole jersey.
“Ottawa was always one of the organizations that I thought was first class,” Bujar said. “You can see that in everything they have going on around here. I’ve seen this franchise over the past 25 years, and they are definitely at the top.”
Like any hockey parent, Bujar walks the fine line between pushing Nathan to reach his potential, and sitting back, letting them figure out their own way. His message to all of his kids is concise and clear, do the little things right, and success will follow, even if not in the form you anticipate.
“I expect 100 percent all the time,” Bujar said. “Yes, we want our kids to strive for the best, but I tell them there are other things in life that are important too. It doesn’t matter what they are doing, I always make sure they are working their butts off.”
Nathan’s pursuit of excellence is evident through his goals. He’s wired to demand the best of himself, and expects to succeed. He compares himself to both Sidney Crosby and Auston Matthews, admiring their other-worldly skills, and striving to emulate their every move.
Playing with a talented Barrie Colts U16 team, Nathan began to see himself as more than a goal scorer, and changed his attitude toward how he could contribute in a multitude of ways. Now, he prides himself on being a leader of men, and has set his sights on one day being a member of the 67’s leadership group.
“I set an example for my teammates,” Nathan said. “I try to be the driver of the team, and one of my main goals is to eventually [wear a letter]. It shows what kind of leader you are.”
Keen to put himself in the best position to succeed, Nathan has been in constant conversation with his brother Lirim, hoping to learn every tidbit he can to arm himself with any advantage he can find.
“We’ve been texting about what it’s like to play in the league,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from him, and it has been great [picking his brain] about training, and being on the ice with the team. He talked to me about what to expect.”
Committing to the 67’s was an easy choice, Nathan says. After calls with Boyd, and Associate General Manager Jan Egert, he felt a mutual desire for him to be a Barber Pole, and after opening an email containing information and videos about the club, his mind was set.
Having gone through this twice with his sons, and once himself, Bujar isn’t getting too far ahead of himself, even if he needs to stop and pinch himself every now and again.
“He’s put in a lot of work,” Bujar said. “To be a first-round pick in the Ontario Hockey League is a big success. There are some really good players who are chasing their dreams, and he’s among them, but now the work starts to get to a different level.”